Thelma Ann Boltin, affectionately known as “Cousin” Thelma, was a storyteller, emcee, teacher and long-time director of the Florida Folk Festival. Her dedication to sharing Florida’s folk traditions brought diverse groups of artists to the festival each year, and established the festival’s reputation for celebrating unique and varied cultures.
Born in South Carolina, she was raised in Gainesville and taught theater in schools and community centers. Here’s a clip of Cousin Thelma discussing the history of the Florida Folk Festival and various folk tales.
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Download: MP3
More Info: Catalog Record
Tags: folklife, Thelma Boltin
my radio buddy dan hayes and i recorded cousin thelman and folfestival for npr years ago. she was the sum of my love and understanding of florida. thanks-dan collins